Zugermayer



March 17, 1964 M. ZUGERMAYER 3,125,188

EXTENDABLE DRAWBAR Filed Oct. 26, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

MELMORE ZUGERMAYER AGENT United States Patent 3,125,188 EXTENDABLE DRAWEAR Melmore Zugerrnayer, Southampton, Pa, assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed Oct. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 233,491 4 Claims. (Cl. 188167) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (E52), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The present invention relates to extendable drawbars for weapon skids and the like and more particualrly to an extendable drawbar which contains the skid braking mechanism therein and to one that is adaptable to control the skid when using various types, sizes and lengths of stores or missiles.

Drawbars are presently used on weapon skids for steering the same with the braking mechanism separately provided. This collateral construction is found to be inconvenient and requires specialized skill in the operation thereof.

Weapon skids presently utilized for transporting various types, sizes and lengths of stores or missiles additional- 1y present problems of safety since the operator and operating handle are permanently located at a fixed distance from the missile or store support. This feature is objectionable and contrary to safety practice when missiles or stores of extended length are transported by the skid. Under these conditions where the missile or store is of extended length, the operator is of necessity located in a position beneath the missile structure. The operator is thereby in a position whereby the loosening of the missile or store from its support and subsequent falling thereof will cause serious injury to the operator. Additionally, the operators field of vision is impaired by the overhanging store or missile which factor has many obvious disadvantages.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a drawbar which is extendable and one wherein a brake mechanism is located therein for purposes of eliminating additional material and reducing cost of construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide an extendable drawbar having a braking mechanism therein which requires little or no skill in the operation thereof and which will provide positive braking of the weapon skid with reliability and safety.

Various other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of one embodiment of the invention and the most novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 illustrates the extendable drawbar with a section thereof cut away and with the hand lever in the intermediate or normal position.

FIG. 2 illustrates the extendable drawbar with the hand lever in a forward or extension permitting position.

FIG. 3 illustrates the extendable drawbar with the hand lever in a rearward or brake release position.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross section of the extendable drawbar with the braking and extension mechanism shown in greater detail.

FIG. 5 is a view taken along section 5-5 of FIG. 4.

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FIG. 6 is a view taken along section 66 of FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, it may be seen that the extendable drawbar 10 of the present invention generally comprises an outer rectangular sleeve 11 telescopi cally receiving an inner sleeve 12. A hand lever support plate 14 is rigidly secured to one end of the inner sleeve 12 and has intermediate its ends a pivot pin 15 pivotally supporting hand lever 16. As readily seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, hand lever 16 is pivotable to three distinct positions indicated as A, B, and C, respectively.

At the end of the support plate 14 remote from its connection with the inner telescoping sleeve 12 is a handle portion 17 which is gripped by the operator. The hand lever 16 is so positioned with respect to handle 17 that the operator may grasp both elements and pivot the hand lever 16 to each of the positions A, B, and C.

Quter sleeve 11 is provided intermediate its end with longitudinally spaced apertures 19 for receiving a detent portion 2%) associated with sleeve 12 in order to preclude relative motion between the outer sleeve 11 and the inner sleeve 12. The end of outer sleeve 11 abuts a shoulder portion 12' provided at one end of the inner sleeve 1.2.

Operatively connecting the hand lever 16 to the internal mechanisms within the sleeve member 12 is a flexible shaft 13 connected at one end to the hand lever 16 intermediate its length and retained in a position relative to the enclosing sleeves by a push-pull cable anchor 25 which allows longitudinal movement of the flexible shaft but precludes any lateral movement thereof.

The operation of the internal mechanism will be described more particularly with reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 below.

At the end of the outer sleeve 11 remote from the hand lever 16 is a braking mechanism generally indicated at 30. This braking mechanism comprises a brake cable or rod 31 extending from within the outer sleeve 11. Rod 31 has integrally formed intermediate its length a spring shoulder 32 for receiving a compression spring 33 interposed between the shoulder 32 and the end panel 34 of the sleeve member 11. Compression spring 33 urges the brake rod outwardly of the sleeve and brake shoe 36 into braking engagement with the brake drum 37.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it is seen that the intermediate or normal position A of the hand lever causes the detent 20 to extend to the aperture 19 thereby pre-- cluding the telescoping action of the inner sleeve and outer sleeve. This position A also manifests itself in the actuation of the braking mechanism which precludes the rotation of brake drum 37.

Referring now to FIG. 2, hand lever 16 is shown in the forward or B position. When pivoted to this position the detent 20 is retracted within the confines of the outer sleeve 11 and a telescoping action between the outer sleeve and inner sleeve 11 and 12, respectively, is permitted. It should be noted that the pivoting of the hand lever to position B has no effect upon the actuation of the braking mechanism which is retained in its braking position.

' Referring now to FIG. 3, the hand lever 16 is shown in the rearward or C position. It should be noted that in this position the detent 20 extends into the upper aperture 19 thereby precluding any telescopic movement between the sleeves 11 and 12. However, in position C, the brake mechanism is withdrawn from the brake drum thereby permitting the same to rotate thereby allowing the skid to be moved.

The internal mechanisms for permitting the telescoping action and for applying the braking mechanism is clearly seen with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. The end of cable 13 remote from the hand lever 16 has connected at its end a cable connector 13 which in turn is rigidly secured between two parallel and longitudinally extending internal pinion support and look plates 40. A pair of external support plates 41 slidably receives one end of the internal support plates 46' for telescopic movement therein. At one end of the external plates 41 is provided an end plate 42 which serves to stop the sliding movement of the internal plate 40. End plate 42 further includes a spring retainer pin 44 which extends longitudinally and intermediate the external plates 41. Intermediate the ends of the external plate 41 is a pinion wheel 50 and pin 50 rotatably mounted intermediate the internal plates 40. In order to permit relative movement of the internal plates 40 with respect to the pinion wheel 50, an elongated slot 46 encompassing pin 50' is formed within the internal plates 40. A pinion lock 47 is rigidly secured between and to the internal plate 40 and comprises a tongue 48 for engaging the teeth 51 on the pinion wheel 50. The pinion lock 47 and tongue portion 48 are normally urged into engagement with the teeth 51 of the pinion wheel 50 by a return spring 45 which is interposed between the end plate 42 and the rear of the pinion lock 47 and is retained in its lateral position by spring retainer 44.

Interposed between the legs of the inner sleeve 12 is a channel-shaped base support member 60, the base leg 61 of which is rigidly secured to the inner sleeve 12. The other legs 62 of the channel member extend transversely of the longitudinal axis of the sleeve and engage the other side of the rectangular sleeve 12 opposite to the side having the base leg supported thereto. In order to permit sliding movement of the internal plates 40 and external plates 41 relative to the channel-shaped base support member 60, a slot 63 is provided in each of the two legs 62.

Support member 66 also includes a tab 62a extending outwardly from the legs 62 and providing a support for pivot pin 65. A detent, generally indicated by numeral 20, is pivotally connected intermediate its length to the pivot pin 65. A spring 66 is connected to the pivot pin 65 and has the ends thereof engaging the leg 62 of the base support member 60 and the shoulder 21 formed on the detent 20. The spring 66 normally urges the detent into the locked position wherein the forward end 26 of the detent is interposed within the aperture 18 in the inner sleeve 12 and the aperture 19 in the outer sleeve 11. In order to remove the forward end 26 from the apertures 18 and 19 of the sleeve members, a lift arm actuating pin 67 is secured to one of the internal plates 40 for engaging the detent lift arm 24 of the detent 20.

The inner telescoping sleeve 12 has formed on one side thereof a T-shaped slot 68 for receiving a longitudinally extending T-shaped rack member 52. The T-shaped rack member is so positioned that the teeth 53 provided on the base of the stern portion 54 engage the teeth 51 on pinion wheel 56. The T-shaped rack member 52 is slidably supported within the T-shaped slot 68 formed in the inner sleeve member 12.

Referring now to FIG. 4 for the description of the braking mechanism, it is seen that the rack member 52 has a projecting arm 55 at the end thereof for pivotally connecting a link member 70 thereto. A clevis member 71 is rigidly secured to the outer sleeve member 11 for pivotally receiving brake rod actuating lever 72 pivotally connected at one end thereto. The other end of lever 72 is pivotally secured to the end of the link member 70. Intermediate the ends of lever 72 is formed a brake rod actuating lever pin 73 for pivotally receiving one end of reciprocating link 74. Link 74 reciprocates by reason of the elongated oval slot 75 formed at one end of the link 74. The other end of the link 74 is pivotally secured to an end fitting 76 of the braking rod 31.

It should be again noted that the brake rod 31 and attached brake shoe 36 are normally urged into braking engagement with brake drum 37 by reason of the compression spring 33 interposed between the end 34 of sleeve member 11 and the spring shoulder 32 formed on the brake rod 31.

In describing the operation of the invention, reference is made to FIGS. 1, 4, 5 and 6 for the position of the apparatus when hand lever 16 is in the normal or intermediate position A. As will be clearly seen by reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, when the hand lever 16 is in the intermediate position, the compression spring 33 acts with the sufiicient force to retain the brake shoe 36 in engagement with brake drum 37. Also in this position, the detent lift arm 24 is not engaged by the actuating pin 67 thereby permitting the action of spring 66 against shoulder portion 21 of the detent 20 to urge the forward portion 26 of the detent 20 into the apertures 18 and 19 formed in the outer and inner sleeves 11 and 12, respectively, thereby precluding any relative movement and telescoping action between the outer sleeve 11 and inner sleeve 12. Therefore, it is seen that the neutral position of the lever 16 will preclude telescoping action of the two sleeve members and will also retain the skid in a fixed location by reason of the engagement of the brake shoe and brake drum.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it is seen that the hand lever 16 is in the forward position B. Upon the forward movement of the hand lever 16 the cable 13 Will also be urged in a direction from left to right with reference to FIG. 4, thereby urging the internal plates 40 in a forward or left to right direction which in turn will cause actuating pin 67 to engage the detent lift arm 24 and to thereby remove the forward portion 26 of the detent pin from the apertures 18 and 19 of the outer and inner sleeves 11 and 12, respectively. By reason of the forward movement of the internal plates 40, the attached pinion lock 47 and the tongue portion 48 will be disengaged from the pinion wheel and urged against the return spring 45. Upon this disengagement, the pinion wheel 50 is permitted to rotate about the bearing 49 supporting the rotatable pin 50'. When the detent 20 is in its inoperative position and when the pinion wheel 50 is permitted to rotate, then the inner sleeve 12, together with channel-shaped base support member 60, internal and external plates 40 and 41, respec tively, will be permitted to move in a rearward or right to left position thereby extending the length of the drawbar 10. This is accomplished without affecting the brake mechanism which remains in its brake position by reason of the rack 52 and braking assembly 70-76, inclusive, being subject to forces to alter the same. The inner sleeve 12 is extended to the desired length relative to the outer sleeve 11 whereupon the lever is permitted to return to the inter-mediate or normal position A and wherein the detent 20 will engage other apertures 19 formed on the outer sleeve 11.

FIG. 3 illustrates the hand lever in the rearward or brake released position C. Referring again to FIG. 4, when the hand lever 16 is drawn to the rearward position, the cable 13, internal plates 40 together with the pinion lock 47 move to a rearward or right to left position. The movement of the cable rearwardly will urge the internal plates 40 together with its pinion lock 47 to a rearward position or impel movement from a right to left position. This movement will be transferred to the external plates 41 by reason of the engagement of tongue 48 and the pinion wheel 56 and its associated rotatable pin 50' which is supported within external plates 41. By reason of the locking of the pinion 50 and its meshing engagement with rack 52, movement of the inner and outer plates 40 and 41, together with pinion wheel 50, will be transferred to the slidable T-shaped rack member 52 which will also move in a right to left direction. This rearward movement of the apparatus will cause the brake cable actuating lever 72 to rotate about the fixed pivot point at clevis 71. This movement will be transferred to reciprocating link 74 by reason of the pin 73 engaging the end of the oval elongated slot 75. This movement will in turn cause brake rod 31 to withdraw brake shoe 36 from its contacted position with brake drum 37, thereby allow brake drum 37 to rotate and allow the skid to be moved.

If it is desired to again engage the brake shoe and brake drum, the operator need only release the lever from its rearward position whereupon the compression spring 33 will return the brake shoe to its engaging position with brake drum 37.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

3 1. An extendable drawbar comprising:

an outer longitudinally extending rectangular member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures along one wall thereof,

an inner longitudinally extending rectangular sleeve member telescoping within said outer sleeve member and including a lever pivotally connected to one end thereof,

a pair of laterally extending guide means integrally connected to said inner sleeve and including longitudinal aligned slot means therein,

a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending external plates slidably received and supported within said slot means and including aligned holes therethrough forming bearings,

shaft means rotatably supported within said bearings,

a pinion wheel including a plurality of teeth secured to said shaft intermediate said external plates,

an end plate interconnecting said pair of external plates at the end remote from said lever,

a complementary pair of internal plates slidably received within said pair of external plates and including elongated slot means therein for permitting said rotating shaft to pass therethrough,

pinion lock means rigidly secured to one end of said i internal support plates for engaging said pinion wheel to preclude rotation thereof,

spring means interposed between said end plate and I said pinion lock means for urging said pinion lock means into engagement with said pinion wheel, cable means connected to said lever and to said internal support plates,

detent means pivotally connected intermediate its length, to said guide means and having means associated therewith for urging one end of said detent means into one of said longitudinally spaced apertures in said outer sleeve,

pin means secured to one of said internal support plates for engaging the other end of said detent means to disengage said one end from said spaced aperture in outer sleeve,

a longitudinally extending T-slot within one wall of said inner sleeve member,

a longitudinally extending T-shaped rack member slidably received within said T-shaped slot and engaging said pinion wheel,

a longitudinally extending brake rod having a brake shoe at one end thereof extending beyond the confines of said outer sleeve member,

and link means pivotally connected to one end of said rack member and to said rod at the end opposite said brake shoe.

2. An extendable drawbar comprising:

an outer longitudinally extending sleeve member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures along the length thereof,

an inner longitudinally extending sleeve member telescoping within said outer sleeve member and including a lever pivotally connetced to one end thereof, laterally extending guide means integrally connected to said inner sleeve,

a first means slidably received within said guide means,

a pinion wheel including a plurality of teeth rotatably mounted within said first means,

a second means slidably received within said first means,

pinion lock means rigidly secured to said second means for engaging said pinion wheel to preclude rotation thereof,

spring means interposed between said first means and said pinion lock means for urging said pinion lock means into engagement with said pinion wheel,

cable means connected to said lever and said second means,

pivotal means connected to said inner sleeve for engaging one of said longitudinally spaced apertures in said outer sleeve,

pin means secured to said second means for disengaging said pivotal means from said spaced aperture in said outer sleeve,

a longitudinally extending rack member slidably supported by said guide means and engageable by said pinion wheel,

brake means supported by said outer sleeve,

and link means pivotally connected to said rack member and to said brake means.

3. An extendable drawbar comprising:

an outer longitudinally extending sleeve member,

an inner longitudinally extending sleeve member telescoping within said outer sleeve member,

laterally extending guide means integrally connected to said inner sleeve,

fastening means secured to said guide means for normally locking said outer sleeve relative to said inner sleeve,

control means connected to one end of said inner sleeve member for actuating said fastening means and the braking mechanism,

a first means slidably received within said guide means,

wheel means rotatably mounted within said first means,

second means slidably received within said first means,

lock means rigidly secured to said second means for engaging said wheel means to preclude rotation thereof,

spring means interposed between said first means and said lock means for urging said lock means into engaging with said wheel means,

cable means connected to said control means and to said second means,

pin means secured to said second means for disengaging said fastening means from said locked position,

a longitudinally extending operating member slidably supported by said guide means and engageable by said wheel means,

brake means supported by said outer sleeve,

and link means pivotally connected to said operating member and to said brake means.

4. An extendable drawbar comprising:

an outer longitudinally extending sleeve member,

an inner longitudinally extending sleeve member telescoping within said outer sleeve member,

fastening means associated with said inner sleeve for normally locking said outer sleeve relative to said inner sleeve,

operating means slidably received within said inner sleeve,

wheel means rotatably mounted within said operating means,

lock means secured to said operating means for engaging said wheel means to preclude rotation thereof,

spring means interposed between said operating means 7 and said lock means for urging said lock means into engagement with said wheel means,

a longitudinally extending operating member slidably supported in said inner sleeve and engageable by said wheel means,

brake means supported by ,said outer sleeve and secured to said operating member,

and control means connected to one end of said inner References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Prowinsky May 12, 1953 Kramcsak et a1 Mar. 13, 1962 

4. AN EXTENDABLE DRAWBAR COMPRISING: AN OUTER LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SLEEVE MEMBER, AN INNER LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SLEEVE MEMBER TELESCOPING WITHIN SAID OUTER SLEEVE MEMBER, FASTENING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID INNER SLEEVE FOR NORMALLY LOCKING SAID OUTER SLEEVE RELATIVE TO SAID INNER SLEEVE, OPERATING MEANS SLIDABLY RECEIVED WITHIN SAID INNER SLEEVE, WHEEL MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID OPERATING MEANS, LOCK MEANS SECURED TO SAID OPERATING MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID WHEEL MEANS TO PRECLUDE ROTATION THEREOF, SPRING MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID OPERATING MEANS AND SAID LOCK MEANS FOR URGING SAID LOCK MEANS INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID WHEEL MEANS, A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING OPERATING MEMBER SLIDABLY SUPPORTED IN SAID INNER SLEEVE AND ENGAGEABLE BY SAID WHEEL MEANS, BRAKE MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID OUTER SLEEVE AND SECURED TO SAID OPERATING MEMBER, AND CONTROL MEANS CONNECTED TO ONE END OF SAID INNER SLEEVE MEMBER FOR ACTUATING SAID FASTENING MEANS AND SAID OPERATING MEANS. 